By Martin Mashekwa
THE Food Reserve Agency has only paid K21 million out of the K58 million owed to farmers who sold white maize grain to the agency in the last marketing season.
This came to light when Kalomo District commissioner, Joshua Sikanduli toured the FRA main storage shed in Kalomo township yesterday.
However, Mr Sikanduli was impressed that there were enough stocks ranging from that of 2019, 2020 and for the last season that are being stored in the FRA main sheds.
“Our target for Kalomo in the last marketing season was 155, 000 by 50 kilo grammes but we managed to buy 529,222 bags, including that of Zimba and Kazungula district. Out of these stocks lying in the satellite depots, 296,014 has been hauled by engaged transporters and the defence personnel to these main sheds for safety purpose.: FRA Kalomo marketing assistant, Kingsley Nondo said.
He however says the payment to the remaining farmers would commence once government allocated funds for the already bought stock,
In another development, the Mr Sikanduli was dismayed with a number of stalled and unfinished developmental projects due to various reasons in the past regime.
This is when he inspected an abandoned Artificial insemination project at the livestock, fisheries and veterinary department; the stalled district health office which is at 70 per cent completion level and an almost neglected Kalomo farmers training centre.
And Mr. Sikaduli has since invited stakeholders to come on board to assist on the construction of mothers shelters at both the Request Muntanga level One hospital and at the Kalomo urban clinic. The absence of such facilities has forced expectant mothers to spend nights at the two facilities’ relative shelters.
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